Learning Ally Audio Update Includes Background Audio Support

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/E3Z3JoXCau0?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple/v4/0f/1d/86/0f1d86fe-b7f7-0d9a-51be-68de18da5c7b/mzl.llxafqoz.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple/v4/0f/1d/86/0f1d86fe-b7f7-0d9a-51be-68de18da5c7b/mzl.llxafqoz.png" width="75" /></a><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/08/learning-ally-audio-app-available-for.html">Learning Ally</a>, a provider of audio books for the blind and <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/02/whats-on-my-ipad-assistive-apps-i-use.html">dyslexic</a>, recently updated their <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/03/apple-releases-ios-71-with-numerous.html">iOS</a> app. The free apps allows Learning Ally members to listen to their audio books while on the go. The new update brings a valuable  new feature to the app. Now, the app allows users to listen to their audio books while using other apps at the same time, a feature commonly called background audio. The update provides a more consistent experience for users who have come to expect background audio support in all apps. With the update users can listen to an audio book while looking up information on the internet, reading a note page, or even responding to an occasional text message. Along with background audio support comes the ability to control playback using control center or a headphones with a remote. The update is available for free and is compatible with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/apple-announces-wwdc-2014-will.html">iPhone</a>, iPad, and <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/09/brand-new-ipod-touch-announced.html">iPod Touch</a>. To take advantage of the app users must be members of Learning Ally. To learn more about Learning Ally <a href="http://learningally.org/">click here</a>.</div></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Bookshare Offers Free Membership to Disabled Veterans Attending School

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://communications.bookshare.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/veterans-banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://communications.bookshare.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/veterans-banner.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/07/bookshare-reaches-200000-accessible.html">Bookshare</a> recently announced that they will be providing free membership for disabled veterans who are currently attending a United States college or university. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/06/bookshareorg-great-resource-for.html">Bookshare</a> also serves disabled civilian students and others with print disabilities by providing free downloadable accessible books. Veterans who qualify, but are not enrolled in school will have access to a 30 day free trial. After the trial veterans continue using Bookshare for a $50 yearly membership fee. Especially on Veterans Day it is great that veterans who are disabled will be able to access over 215,000 accessible books from the Bookshare library. Bookshare's press release says,</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Accessible books can break down reading barriers and open a new lifeline to reading to go back to school, learn a new vocation or read for pleasure."</span></span></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A membership provides an individual with electronic books that can be read with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/10/have-you-ever-wondered-how-text-to.html">text-to-speech</a> or used with a braille device. This makes reading possible for people who are blind, low vision, physically disabled, or dyslexic. Interested veterans can find more information by visiting <a href="http://communications.bookshare.org/veterans2013free/">Bookshare's veterans site</a>. People interested in Bookshare who are not veterans can visit <a href="http://bookshare.org/">Bookshare.org</a>.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Amazon, Sony, and Kobo Don't Want to Make Their E-Readers Accessible

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://chipkidd.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kobo-nook-sony-kindle-ebook-readers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="176" src="http://chipkidd.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kobo-nook-sony-kindle-ebook-readers.jpg" title="Image of readers with skull and cross bones" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://icannwiki.com/images/1/10/Fcclogo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="75" src="http://icannwiki.com/images/1/10/Fcclogo.gif" title="FCC logo" width="75" /></a>Some of the top names in the <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/06/e-reader-show-down-kindle-vs-nook-vs.html">e-reader</a> market are asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to waive the <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/06/ios-7-accessibility-overview-what-we.html">accessibility</a> requirements for their devices. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/10/is-kindle-fire-accessible.html">Amazon</a>, Sony, and Kobo have all petitioned the FCC to waive the accessibility requirement for their e-readers. They do not want to have to make their devices "accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities."<br /><br />The FCC requires advanced communication services (ACS) to be accessible to people with disabilities. The e-reader companies are arguing that their devices do not fall under the ACS classification because they are dedicated to <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/04/smart-ebook-interface-makes-navigation.html">e-book</a> reading. The three companies also claim that adding <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/12/ios-5-camera-accessibility.html">accessibility</a> features would decrease battery life, increase cost and increase bulk. They claim in the FCC document,<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"<span style="color: #222222; line-height: 21.4375px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rendering ACS accessible on e-readers would require fundamentally altering the devices and it may not be possible to meet that requirement and maintain e-readers as inexpensive mobile reading devices, and yet the necessary changes, if they were made, would not yield a meaningful benefit to individuals with disabilities. It’s not merely cost but the very nature of a specialized e-reader device that is at issue."</span></span></blockquote>Disabilities rights advocates content that because e-readers are not only being used for leisure, but also education the devices should be required to be accessible. Furthermore, Amazon has over a 100 million Kindle-exclusive titles according to the <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/08/28/amazons-kindle-exclusive-books-surge-past-100-million-mark/">Wall Street Journal</a>. If <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/05/kindle-app-for-ios-updated-with.html">Kindle</a>s are not usable by the blind and people with other disabilities such as dyslexia they are shut out from this content.<br /><br />It is questionable if adding accessibility features will really slow down and bulk up e-readers as the companies claim. A more realistic possibility is that the companies see adding accessibility features as an unwanted cost and challenge. Instead of requesting waivers from the government these e-reader companies should focus on making devices that are usable to the masses. Adding accessibility feature to devices is important and benefits the consumer as well as the company. With accessibility features e-readers can be purchased in public school, there are more potential customers, and the public will view the company in a better light.<br /><br />The FCC is requesting the public's input in this matter through Tuesday, September 3. People interested in making a comment can do so by <a href="http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display?z=1yu81">clicking here.</a> The full petition can be read <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/document/petition-waiver-access-acs-services-and-equipment-0">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> Amazon's newest Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Fire HDX include new accessibility features. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000632481">Click here</a> to learn more about the new accessibility features.

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Bookshare Reaches 200,000 Accessible Downloadable Titles

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/assistivetechnology/1/0/a/0/-/-/Square-logo-nonstandard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/assistivetechnology/1/0/a/0/-/-/Square-logo-nonstandard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html">Bookshare's</a> downloadable library of accessible ebooks reached 200,000 titles. The 200,000 mark comes just months after the 11th anniversary of the service. Bookshare books contain digital text and can be read with text-to-speech and synchronized highlighting. Text-to-speech paired with synchronized highlighting can help dyslexics with comprehension. Members can also read books on a refreshable braille display. As a result of funding from the United States Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (<a href="http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html">OSEP</a>) Bookshare is able to provide its services free to qualified U.S. students. For information on membership <a href="https://www.bookshare.org/_/membership/overview">click here.</a> Members are provided with software to read Bookshare books on their Mac or PC but  Bookshare books can also be read on many other devices including <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/06/ios-7-accessibility-overview-what-we.html">iOS</a> devices using the  <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/read2go-review.html">Read2Go</a> or <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/07/voice-dream-reader-app-for-ios.html">Voice Dream Reader</a> app. An Android app called <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/04/free-bookshare-app-for-android.html">Go Read</a> is also available.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii